Queensland reports drop in Covid numbers to 16,031 cases but reports 13 deaths

Queensland reports drop in Covid numbers to 16,031 cases but reports 13 deaths as state announces big chance to booster shots

  • Drop in new Covid cases to 16,031 in Queensland but deaths rise to 13 people
  • Eligibility for booster jabs reduced to three months from second dose of vaccine
  • QR code check-in will not be dropped, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said 
  • Ms Palaszczuk said millions of rapid antigen tests will shortly arrive in the state 


Queenslander Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a drop in Covid cases to 16,031 new infections in the state but with 13 deaths, as changes to eligibility for booster shots were confirmed. 

Ms Palaszczuk said from next Monday, Queenslanders will be able to come forward for booster jabs three months after a second shot of a Covid vaccine, rather than four months.

She said 91.76 per cent of Queenslanders had now received a first dose of vaccine and 89 per cent were now double dosed.

Ms Palaszczuk said Queenslander’s QR code check-in system would not be dropped, despite calls from local mayors for it to be retired.   

Ms Palaszczuk said from next Monday, Queenslanders will be able to come forward for booster jabs three months after a second shot of a Covid vaccine, rather than four months

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said of the 13 deaths, two people were in their 60s, five were in the 70s, five in their 80s, and one in their 90s,

One person was unvaccinated, one had received a single dose of vaccine, eight had received two doses and one had received three jabs.. 

He said 855 people were currently in hospital with Covid, up from 805 yesterday, with 54 people in ICU. and 22 on ventilation.

Ms Palaszczuk said the state had increased its order of rapid antigen tests from 18 million units to 23 million units.

She said one million RATs had just arrived in the state and two million more would be available in the next couple of weeks. 

Meanwhile, Queensland doctors working on the front line of the state’s COVID-19 outbreak say they’re in the dark about government plans to protect them during the upcoming peak.

Another nine virus deaths were recorded on Thursday, taking Queensland’s pandemic death toll to 72.

The state announced 16,812 cases yesterday, with 850 people being treated in hospital and 48 in ICU.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard expects hospitalisations to peak in the ‘low thousands’ in coming weeks, but a union representing doctors in public hospitals say they haven’t seen any COVID-safe workforce plans yet.

The Queensland branch of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation says the state’s Industrial Relations Commission has ordered the government to share data on how many doctors have had P95 masks fit-tested, its plans for staff testing and for managing health workers during the surge.

But AMSOFQ president Dr Hau Tan says doctors are being kept in the dark about the government’s plans to protect them.

‘Queensland Health had not complied with another QIRC recommendation to provide …the Covid-19 workforce surge plans or Covid-19 safe workplace plans for all Hospital and Health Services,’ he said in a statement.

‘We also demanded that Queensland Health provide easily accessible and up-to-date information regarding Covid testing for staff …across the state.

‘Public hospital doctors have gone above and beyond for the past two years, and are already pushed to the limit.

‘As doctors put themselves in harm’s way to care for patients during this current Omicron wave, we need to see more from Queensland Health to protect their health and safety.’

The complaint comes as it was revealed up to 5,000 workers at the Queensland Government’s headquarters in William Street, Brisbane, were told they must prove they had received a first dose of a Covid vaccine by this Sunday and a second by February 20. 

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